During a conversation with a physician colleague about a particularly vexing clinical conundrum, I suggested consulting a renowned ethicist we both know. My colleague responded with an angry look and said, “Why ask his opinion? He can never reach a decision.”

Indeed, physicians expect consultants to tell us which path to follow. By contrast, ethicists explore the spectrum of paths available and the principles influencing decisions. Many physicians are troubled when they discover that more options need consideration, that an optimal choice is not available, or that a choice is not theirs to make. Reactions include a range of responses. Some state emphatically, “I know what is right and will now proceed to do it.” Others welcome the opportunity to illuminate ambiguities. If you count yourself among the latter, this text is for you.